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New South Wales State of Origin Game 3 Team - Tariq Sims set to make Origin debut for Blues

Tariq Sims will make his State of Origin debut for New South Wales as the Blues look for a clean sweep of Queensland in Game 3 at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday July 11.

NSW coach Brad Fittler has made one change to the team that secured the 2018 State of Origin series in Sydney just over a week ago, with Dragons enforcer Sims claiming a spot on the interchange bench.

Matt Prior - who debuted for the Blues in Game 2 - has been dropped, while Ryan James is the 18th man.

Fittler says Sims could start if captain Boyd Cordner fails to overcome a calf injury picked up from Game 2, while James will come into the side if that does indeed eventuate.

“Tariq’s been fantastic, one of the in-form players of the competition,” Fittler said.

“Boyd is carrying a bit of an injury at the moment so it’s a position Tariq plays as well, so that will cover Boyd during the week and also for the game.” Cordner will undergo a medical assessment later on Monday to see how much he can do during the week, Fittler added.

“He’ll be always the best judge of his injury and he will, I’m sure, have the team in mind when he makes his decision.”

Apart from Sims’ inclusion and Prior’s axing, NSW will field the the same players that conquered Queensland 18-14 in Game 2 to win just their second Origin series since 2006.

Prior has been named as a shadow player alongside Roosters playmaker Luke Keary.